Sneaky Little Words

"And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all." Acts 4:33b

Saturday, God's peace attends my soul. Countless hours caught up in green life of earth with rain soaked grass, bushy leaves of raspberry limbs, even weeds between the cracks of brick. Sharing space with a slumbering cat, I fill my mind with God's good graces and read. My heart full of His lush earth filling every sense of mine with contented praise. 

Coffee shared with a childhood friend and giggles heard of grandchildren close. Meal shared with son and wife. Life is good. Heart overflows. Daylight gives in to darkness. Sleep comes.

A new day. What could go wrong? My heart alert to all good but ways of old thinking flow in and pour out. Husband's heart destroyed by three sneaky words. "I knew it." Words that spill in one single moment when my guard is down. Too late. No take-backs.

 Lord, forgive. Lord, save. Lord, how?

Grace.

Grace from God to forgive. Wash anew. Start again.

Grace from Husband to forgive. Start again.

All grace.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." Acts 20:24

Thankful Thursday - Gifts of the Heart

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

 1 John 3:18

Our granddaughter stampeded through the back door with a giggle, her arms wide open, and her hands gripping a sheet of white paper. On it was her masterpiece: a hand-drawn anniversary card showing her Gramsie and Pops standing next to a flower and her three-year-old signature, strongly resembling blades of grass.

I lifted her up off the floor for a tight squeeze and an Eskimo kiss (cuz real kisses are yucky) but she surprised me and landed her wet lips on mine. Her mama and baby brother handed Pops a container of blueberry and cinnamon muffins. Mmmmmm our favorites.

These precious, heart-made gifts meant more than an expensive cruise or store-bought gift. They were made with their hands wrought with love from their hearts. What more could anyone ask for?

So, on this Thankful Thursday I'm grateful for:

1. Wet kisses from my granddaughter

2. Heart-made gifts

3. Anniversaries

What are you thankful for? Please share what you're grateful for today so we can all be reminded of the simple things in life that God blesses us with each day.

Happy Anniversary

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Today we celebrate the day our lives were joined in marriage. Barely twenty, we walked the aisle of the steepled church as though we were the only two there. But we weren't.

Family and friends filled the pews and witnessed our vows. The minister prayed a blessing  and pronounced us husband and wife. We sealed our forever promises with a tender kiss as though we were the only two there. But we weren't.

We labored over our children, our home, and our jobs. We learned the strength of wedding day promises with every storm that blew through our door. Many nights we suffered as though were were the only two who knew. But we weren't.

In the midst of all the joy and in the depths of all the struggle our God was there...is still here...in us, through us, and between us...keeping us until death us do part.

Today we drink in the memories of all our years like a fragrant wine. We thank our Creator for making one another for each other and pray His presence be ever with us in the years to come.

Happy Anniversary, Peter.

I love you,
Dawn

I Got This One, God!

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Gym class was a nightmare. Showing off my negative athletic abilities twice a week in front of twenty-five classmates was frightening. It wasn't like I was the last one to be picked for a team or left alone on the sidelines but athletics just wasn't my thing. But I did have one good day in gym class; a day I'll never forget.

It was basketball season and Ms. Bevans was filling in for our regular teacher. She split us up into two teams and we took our allotted positions on the court. I think I was center. At the sound of her whistle she threw the ball between me and my opponent and the other team took possession of the ball. At least the pressure was off so I could concentrate on blending into the background and avoiding the ball until the final basket was made by someone else.

Suddenly, I turned around and coming straight at me was that orange ball. "Oh no!" I thought, putting my hands out and closing my eyes. The ball landed in my hands perfectly and like a hot potato I flung it towards the basket. It formed a perfect arc and I scored two points for my team.

"Wow! Perfect! Did you all see what she did?" cried Ms. Bevans. I was never so proud and I never repeated that perfect play ever again. But for one moment in time, "I got it!" I was set apart from my classmates as the athletic expert. The positive attention felt great but shooting that one perfect basket did NOT make me an expert in basketball.

Isn't it that way in our walk with the Lord, too? We gain a bit of confidence, maybe some public accolades for our ministerial accomplishments and it all feels so good. All of a sudden we're an expert.

Then a friend approaches us for spiritual guidance. It's so easy to say, "I got this one, God," and proceed to speak our own wisdom into their life rather than leading them to the source of wisdom, God's Word. When God entrusts us with His children, he does not expect us to usurp His authority, but rather to teach them to recognize His voice through reading God's Word and simply listening for His still, small voice in the silence of prayer.

God doesn't need us but He does choose to use us in each other's lives to point to Him as the Source of all wisdom, truth, and grace in this game of life.

Time Out!

"At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place..."

Luke 4:42

A small, wooden, high-backed chair sits empty in a corner of my dining room. It caught my attention at a town-wide craft fair over twenty years ago and it's initial purpose was strictly ornamental. But as my children grew and I began a home day care, I soon discovered it was the perfect size for a child's bottom. Yes, you've guessed it. It became the "time-out chair."

For most children, a few minutes of solitude in the time-out chair helped calm the situation and improve their attitudes. Sometimes as adults, we need to a few minutes in the time-out chair too, even if we're not the ones who caused the ruckus.

Yesterday, I sent myself to the time-out chair. Oh, not the same chair, but my quiet chair; the one in my office.

It had been a rough Sunday morning of waking up late leaving us gulping down eggs without coffee and racing to church. Half way to the highway, my husband and I wondered if we should even go since our attitudes were so bad. But, we continued on, mostly out of a heart of obligation rather than worship. It ended up a bad decision.

Later that afternoon, I snuck away. In complete silence and solitude I rested in God's embrace and His Word, confessing my bad attitude and drinking in his grace. He filled me with His peace so by the end of my time-out I could walk in harmony with my husband and enjoy the company of my family.

We all have need of a time-out now and again. Even Jesus slipped away from the crowds to spend time in solitude, thinking and praying to his heavenly Father. If Jesus needed that quiet time, how much more do we need it?

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35

Thankful Thursday - Everyday Things

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

Much looms in our everyday existence of job, home, family, school. Responsibilities that clamor for our attention all at the same time. They speak so loudly and hyper-focus our attention on the details that we tend to ignore the larger picture of beauty around us.

God calls us to lift our eyes above the details and focus on the world He created around us; to be watchful for Him in our midst. When we do this we set our thoughts on the larger picture and in the midst of all the stress He sends us little reminders that He is in control.

Author Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts reminds us that God is in the everyday, even in the ugly if we open our hands in gratefulness. She takes us on a journey of thankfulness in the minute details of existence and God shows up. He shows up and wraps His strong arms around our frailty and loves us. Who doesn't need that hug today?

Paul also encouraged us to live a life of watchful gratitude. In his letter to the Colossians he encourages them to devote themselves to their relationship with God (prayer) "being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2). It's easier to be thankful when life is easy and much more challenging when life is difficult to bear. But that's the point, isn't it?

So here's my challenge: Each Thursday, before the weekend comes in it's swarm of doing, let's take time to list three things we are thankful for. We'll call it Thankful Thursday. I'd love your input each week so please feel free to share three things you are thankful for in the comments.

On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for everyday things:

1. Home-grown peppers

2. Sticky grandchildren in bathtubs

3. Generations laughing around the dinner table

Okay, now it's your turn. What everyday things are you thankful for?

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

Sanctification: A Process of the Heart NOT The List - II

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

We opted for a patio garden this year. Only a few manageable planters set out around the deck of the pool; enough to fill our salad bowls with tomatoes and our chili pots with peppers.

It was a wet spring and the peppers sprouted fruit shortly after transplanting. The tomato plant blossomed quickly but soon all the flowers withered and died. At first I thought it was because of the heavy rains but when the storms subsided and sunny, hot days followed, fruit still evaded this pitiful plant. I pinched back sucker stems from the bottom and tried to cultivate the soil the best I knew how until a gardener friend suggested I add compost to the soil. "Seems like the poor plant is using all its energy to grow leaves and needs a little boost of nutrients to give it energy to produce fruit," she explained. Sure enough, within days after adding that black, nutrient-rich compost to the soil, fruit appeared.

It's like that with our spiritual lives too. Just like adding compost to the tomatoes created a more conducive soil for yielding fruit, there is spiritual compost that feeds our souls and produces spiritual fruit. This is the ongoing process of sanctification.

Our spiritual compost is the Word of God, spending time alone in prayer and worship. By reading the Bible, we learn God's story and begin to identify our place in His story as well. We feed our minds with Truth and our lives begin to transform from the inside out. Prayer is God's way of communication. It's really just conversation between us and God; both talking and most importantly, consciously listening for God's voice. Worship is simply honoring God in all that we do, (work, play, parenting, lifestyle) as well as corporate worship at our churches. 

As we fertilize the soil of our souls through this process of discipleship and with the help of the Holy Spirit, our minds and our lives become more like Christ's, naturally yielding the spiritual fruit spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control).

God also equips us with spiritual gifts (administration, apostleship, craftsmanship, creative communication, discernment, encouragement, evangelism, faith, giving, helps, hospitality, intercession, knowledge, leadership, mercy, prophecy, shepherding, teaching, wisdom, tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, miracles, and prophecy). He gives us these gifts to empower us for a specific purpose in order to build the Kingdom of God on earth and to encourage one another in our faith. These gifts are not earned nor grown, like spiritual fruit, but rather they are freely given. (See 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4, 1Timothy 2, Exodus 31, and Psalm 150). Sometimes they are coupled with our natural talents God has embedded into our DNA and other times he endows us with a gift that is beyond or natural abilities.

Sanctification is a natural, ongoing process of freely surrendering our lives to Christ and allowing His Holy Spirit to transform us into His likeness by cultivating the soil of our hearts, minds, and souls with spiritual compost. The Holy Spirit does not give us a "to do" list of characteristics and gifts to be checked off because fruit is grown, not acquired and spiritual gifts are given, not earned.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Sanctification: A Process of the Heart, Not THE LIST

"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption..." 1 Corinthians 1:30

We don't need one more thing to add to our "to do" list. We aren't looking to learn five more steps to be a better person. Life is complicated enough, busy enough, hard enough not to add more to our already full plates. So when anyone suggests we strive to become more Godly, more Christ-like we tend to shrink back and say, "Not now, Lord." Why? Because we think it will be a long list of things we are responsible for doing. We're looking to take things off our plates, not things to heap on top of what's already there.

That's exactly what I thought when God recently gave me the gift of a new word: sanctification. When God places a word in front of me multiple times, in multiple settings within a short span of time, he's asking me to pay attention. I've sat on this word for a week thinking I've got too many things on my "to do" list already but it keeps coming up in everything I read so I guess God's trying to say something.

The dictionary defines sanctification like this: to purify or free from sin; to make holy, set apart as sacred; to make productive or conducive to spiritual blessing. The first two definitions add nothing to our "to do" lists. It is a free gift, if we accept it. But the third definition leans towards a cooperative effort on our part with God.

First, it is by Christ's death we are purified, set free from sin once and for all therefore, I am made holy before God. There's nothing we can do to earn that; nothing we have to do to become sanctified except confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Christ died for my sins (Romans 10:9).

Second, Christ calls us out, sets us apart as sacred before God as the Church: "...to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (I Corinthians 1:2).

Now here comes our part...sort of..."to make productive or conducive to spiritual blessing." To receive a spiritual blessing, we must be in a state where our lives are conducive, ready to produce the good things that bring blessing. But how do we do that on our own? How do we know what the "right" things are? Is it all up to us to know, to do? Yes and no.

When Jesus was preparing to leave his disciples in charge of his ministry he said, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).  We are not left on our own to figure out how to make our lives more conducive, more open to God's blessing. He has sent his invisible, Holy Spirit to take up residence in our hearts, to lead the way.

Let's continue this conversation tomorrow...Add it to your list.

Come and Dine

"On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines." Isaiah 25:6

The clang of an old farmer's dinner bell, the tinkling cattleman's triangle from the back stoop, a mother's familiar voice calling to her children playing 'round the neighborhood. All different yet the same as they beckon family to the dinner table.

Gathering for dinner at the summer cottage was always a delight. Sun kissed cheeks freshly showered, gathered together at the Lion's Claw table ready to satisfy their hunger after a day at the shore. But instead of digging in with both hands, we paused to give thanks. We didn't fold our hands or bow our heads in prayer as you'd expect. Rather, we raised our voices in song, inviting one another to Come and Dine not only at our table, but Jesus' table.

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;

You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;

He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.” *

We had so much to be thankful for. We still do. Much more than food. Much more than family sharing a name or a home. Much more. We have a God who became man, who lived among us because He loved us; who died for us. Who lives again, for us. Who satisfies our every hunger.

Our God beckons us to dine with him. He's reserved a seat for each of us at his banqueting table with the choicest foods, the most exquisite wines, topped with His never ending love. He will not call us with a clanging dinner bell, the tinkling of a cattleman's triangle from the back stoop, or a shout from across the back lawn.  No, our God is a gentleman. He whispers in our hearts and holds out his arms and simply says, "Come."

Are you hungry?

Lord, you beckon us to join you at your banqueting table where you satisfy our every need; where you fill our souls with manna from heaven.

*Come and Dine by Charles B. Widmeyer, 1907 (Public Domain)

Limitless

"Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, oh Lord." Psalm 139:4

Fear, doubt, and lack came knocking at my door this morning. Faced with more work, more changes to my chapters, more words to be added, more editing before my book is ready for the eyes of the publisher. Limited words. Limited resources. Limited time.

Then God so gently reminded me He is limitless. His wisdom far surpasses my own. His words have already been set upon my tongue. His resources are infinite. He knows no limits of time or space or beauty. He dared my imagination to run wild.

Therefore, this day my fear will be replaced with joy from the God of this universe who goes before me to plan and provide from His unfathomable depths of resources and wisdom. I shall drink from His pool of Living Water and pour out His words that overflow from His limitless love. 

"Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:8

"You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel." Psalm 73: 23-24

O Lord, our thoughts, our words, our resources are limited. But you are limitless. Fill us with your Holy Spirit to overflowing that we may dare to dream God-sized dreams. Go before us today, oh God, to prepare a way for us. Fill us with your wisdom and provide for us by your infinite resources so that we might partner with your creativity and bring your kingdom here. Amen.

All Because of Jesus

"Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south." Psalm 107:2-3

Faces. Faces of beauty. Eyes. Eyes smiling, crying, searching. Lips. Lips praising, praying, sharing. Hands. Hands clapping, opening, rising. Hearts. Hearts beating, loving, longing. Lives. Lives touching, moving, changing. Story. Story forming, sharing, leading.

 

       All because of Jesus.

 

The active, ever-present God meeting each one as individual. Individual in shape and form. Individual in need and want. Individual in talent and beauty. Women, writers, speakers, leaders uniting to tell their stories. 

 

     All because of Jesus.

 

Humbling. Heart-breaking. Inspiring. Motivating. Empowering. Stories confessing brokenness. Stories sharing joy. Stories leading us to the One who seeks and saves. Stories of the One offering us something new; a new name and a new life.

All because of Jesus.

 

This was my weekend. Surrounded by 650 women gathered from around this country, representing 44 states and four countries who had a Jesus story to tell. A story unique in it's delivery and circumstance yet universal in it's message: Broken. Touched by the open hands of Jesus. Changed forever.  

All because of Jesus.

 

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Detours

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

Join me for the beginning of this Detour today at 4pm on Encouragement Cafe . I'll be serving up my detour story titled GPS: Listening to God's Planning Strategy.

Here's how the story continues:

Usually detours are set up to protect us from dangerous road conditions ahead. But when we detour off God's planned route for our lives, we can travel some treacherous roads. As you've just read my story at Encouragement Cafe, I learned this the hard way and then God redirected my journey on an off-road experience.

In the seven months it took to completely heal from my concussion, there were times when I could do nothing. The pain was so severe that simple tasks like bending over, watching television, listening to music, and browsing the Internet triggered excruciating headaches. I could however, journal and read for short snippets of time. So, what's left to do? NOTHING!

I felt so guilty knowing my entire family was working and I was contributing nothing. I kept checking in with God, "Are you sure I'm suppose to be doing nothing?" The answer was always the same, "Do nothing. Just let me heal you." Double checking that I heard him right I'd ask again, "So God, in my 'doing nothing' what am I REALLY suppose to be doing?"

In God's infinite wisdom and humor, I wasn't really doing nothing. I was enrolled in God's School of Ear Training. God had me right where he wanted me; totally dependent on Him for a full nine hours a day. In those hours God trained my ears to discern his voice in prayer, in reading Scripture, and in simple conversation.

The following summer it was time to take a step of faith and follow God's directions. Journaling quietly at my girlfriends kitchen table one July morning, God gave me the gift of words that formed a simple verse. As I reread it I thought, "Hey, that could be a children's book! "God answered, "Why, yes it could. Now publish it." That's how simply my children's book Auntie's House came to be and was published by Halo Publishing Int'l in February 2009. It was a small beginning that has germinated into a larger, God-sized dream.

Learning to hear God's voice, recognizing it and stepping out in faith to obey it have been valuable lessons. It is difficult to let go of our own plans and veer off-road with God. Sometimes the road conditions leave us with poor visibility and we're left wondering what awaits us up ahead. But one thing is true: God will never leave us or forsake us on our journeys. He will see us through to the end.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight." Psalm 119:35 (NIV)

Dear Lord,

How easy it is to stay our own course when you are calling us to detour away from dangerous roads. Help us not only to discern your voice but to humbly lay down our own road plans for yours that lead to life.

Holy Tears

"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells." Psalm 46:4

By Saturday afternoon at the She Speaks conference, my heart was overwhelmed by God's presence and words that pierced my soul. It was all good, just more than my humanity could contain. So, I tip-toed into the prayer room, sought sanctuary, and wept. Tears of gratitude, of wonder, of cleansing from my Jehova-Mekaddishkem, (God who sanctifies), rolled down my cheeks. My shoulders heaved and my voice could not utter one audible word, only a groan; a sound so deep within that only the Holy Spirit could interpret.

God's journey for me this year has been one signified by these words: Surrender. Confidence. Small beginnings. God planted them in the soil of my heart one-by-one throughout the past seven months and they germinated in separate, neatly cultivated rows of understanding.

Surrender. At first I thought this word was given to me for my husband. I misunderstood. It was all for me. God finally whispered clearly to my heart, "Surrender your words. Surrender your striving. Surrender your book." He didn't say give up on my efforts, my dreams and plans. Rather, he called me to lay them down and partner with him in the creative process of a God-sized dream: a book that would speak healing to the wounded hearts of daughters of divorce.

Confidence. Big dreams brought fear. Fears that I wasn't good enough, equipped enough, talented enough. I wasn't enough. But he reassured me He is enough. I walked into church the Sunday after New Year's Day and was handed a slip of paper; a torn off calendar sheet with two Scripture verses on it. It's significance to the sermon fails me now but it was a profound message to me directly from God. It read, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36. Dated: July 22, 2011; the date the She Speaks writers' conference would begin.

Small beginnings. A book has been brewing in my belly for two years and this winter I surrendered it back to the Lord for his purposes and wrote hard and long to prepare it for the writer's conference. I asked Josie Muwonge, a visiting pastor, to pray over me for God's annointing as I continued to prepare. She said, "I see God's annointing all over you already. Go home and write." And when she finished praying she whispered, "Do not bemoan the small beginnings."

I walked into She Speaks this weekend very pregnant with the lessons God had taught me, locked behind a binder, written in black and white. I surrendered it to the publishers. One liked it. More work to be done. But this was not the significant moment. For the significant came in small morsels, spoken by sisters of the Word, that swelled my belly when those neatly germinated rows collided in one place; those God-reminders of surrender, confidence and small beginnings. I could not restrain myself and in moments they poured out as rivers of tears sacrificed to the Most High in a holy corner of the She Speaks prayer room.

Do you have a dream that God's placed in your heart? Are you tired of the burn in your belly to see it come true? Are you burned out from striving and planning in your own strength? I invite you to lay it down, dear reader. Take time to weep and listen for God's words as his Spirit washes over you.

"My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God." Job 16:20

Sweet Worship From Generation to Generation

“Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.” Psalm 79: 13


Since our children married I find myself longing for them during Sunday morning worship. I miss watching them get lost in praise and witnessing God’s precious Spirit wash over their faces.


God must have been listening to my heart because he gathered my family together for worship, this Sunday night. As the lights dimmed and the music began to swell my heart was full as I stood amongst my family who invited worship. Soon, my three year old granddaughter beckoned me to dance. “Grams, can we dance? Will you dance with me?”


I must admit, at first I struggled with how to use this as a teachable moment for her; to teach her that we dance or raise our hand in worship to Jesus, not just because it’s fun to move to the beat of the drums. Then Jesus whispered, “Do not hinder the little children to come to me.” So, I kicked of my shoes (and Dakota’s too) and we danced and we swayed and we worshiped Jesus together. There we were, side-by-side lifting our voices, raising our hands, raising our banners of praise to the Lord. I find it almost inexplicable.

In a quiet moment near the end, the band began to whisper a melody that has been sung to comfort four generations in my family:

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms may all pass away, but there’s something about that name.”

I was swallowed up in God’s presence at that moment, holding my granddaughter close, watching those familiar faces soaked in His presence; I was so grateful to be worshiping with my family. I am thankful that He has blessed my family from generation to generation with a passion to praise Him.


Thank you Lord, for the blessing me with a family that worships you. May our lives continue to honor you and our lips to worship you from generation to generation. Amen.

"His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." Luke 1:50

My Greatest Desire

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

It's a perfect morning. Summer, sunshine, silence and a whole day to do whatever I desire.

While comforting scents of coffee and cinnamon brew in the corner, I pop a raisin English muffin into the toaster. And wait.

Not wanting to waste time, I scan my grocery list, adding and subtracting items according to my scant plethora of coupons. Still waiting.

I scoop up the newspaper, (barely reaching my driveway), nearly tripping over my fluffy feline that runs under my feet as I step back into the house. She weaves back and forth between my legs until I fulfill her desire for tuna and eggs, Friskies style.

Ahhh. Coffee's done. English muffin is dripping with melted butter. I grab the paper, ready to settle into the local news when God whispers, "Come away. Delight in me."

I stand there a few seconds contemplating all the time I'd waste sitting around "doing nothing." Really. God whispers again, "Come away." One thing I've learned in my almost 50 years, when God asks me, more than once to do something, I listen. So, dropping the paper,  I relinquish my desire for busyness to "do nothing" except be in God's presence.

He never disappoints. In the devotional Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young God met me this morning with these words, "This time alone with me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day before you. Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me. Opposition comes in many forms: (including) your own inner critic to spend your time more productively. As you grow in your desire to please Me above all else, you gain strength to resist these opponents. Delight yourself in Me , for I am the deepest Desire of your heart."

Do you ever look at your quiet time with God as doing nothing, like me? Do you ever desire to spend your time with other people doing other things rather than with God? The bible says we are his greatest delight; he takes great pleasure in His children; He sings over us with joy! He just wants to spend time with us and become our hearts' deepest Desire; our greatest longing.

Dear Lord, forgive me of my selfishness. Continue to draw me near to your side, into your presence until you become my deepest desire.

It's Been A Week

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

It's been quite a week. Preparing for the She Speaks writers' conference means endless days of research, dotting your i's and crossing your t's. It's where the rubber meets the road and God says, "Do you trust me?"

Those of us brave enough to follow God's call on our hearts to write His message on the hearts of other women, go through weeks, months, years of questioning our mission. We wonder, "Have you really called me God? 'cause this is just plain hard." With the publishing industry whittling away while it reevaluates its place in the techno-savvy world, those 0f us with a message beg for a chance to be heard.  

Two years ago, God placed the seed for a book in my heart. A guide for daughters of divorce toward the rescue, restoration, and release of their wounded hearts. It' been a struggle to write. It's been a challenge to revisit those places I've wanted to forget. Yet, God's reminded me that the freedom He's given because of my obedience to forgive, must be shared with the next generation.

Although I'd like to think my words will be published, God has continually reminded me this year that I'm on a journey; that all my experiences are part of a long process. He's reminded me that no matter if my words are published, I must remember three things: (1) be grateful for small beginnings, (2) be patient, no matter how long it takes for God to accomplish His mission through me, and (3) be confident in what He has equipped me to do.

So, as I prepare my second book proposal, I choose to hope rather than cling to discouragement. I choose to persevere, rather than give up and say, "What's the use?" I choose to step out in obedience and gain insight, rather than to stubbornly disobey in the prospect of disappointment.

One thing I know: I serve a God of limitless possibilities and promises. I choose to step out in obedience to His call and see what's in store...day to day. What about you?

The Beauty of the Dance

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:11

There I sat, nestled deep into my favorite chair, in the corner of my writing room, journaling thoughts. Like greeting an old friend, I caressed the pages of my journal and breathed in its white linen scent. With pen in hand, words danced across the page without a blinking cursor bidding my next thought, impatiently. The bend and twirl of every cursive stroke wove thoughts into words the eye could see until my mind could comprehend its beauty. Ah! The beauty of the dance. 

Those scrawling conversations with God are times of worship, really. He bids me come, I take his hand out onto the floor and we dance. One word and then another. As he leads me around I catch a glimpse of where I've been and where He wants to lead me next. It can be frightening sometimes when He quickens the pace and I clumsily trip over my own feet, trying to predict his next step. It's then, He picks me up, looks into my eyes, and whispers, "Trust me. I've got you. Don't worry."

We always want to know what's next, don't we? But God knows better. He knows that if we could see what's next we may choose not to follow His lead. We may become overwhelmed and leave the dance floor before the music ends. What beauty would there be to the dance unfinished?

Jesus bids us come. Will you follow His lead?

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' " Jeremiah 29:11

Feeling the Fear

"You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

Lamentations 3:57

There are two types of fear; fear that protects you from injury or pain and fear that paralyzes you from experiencing all that is good. Either way, we all experience fear.

Protective fear is good. God placed the fear of falling and loud noises in each of us from birth,  to keep us safe. We learn to fear other things, either from our parents or through our own injuries, like hot stoves, fire, depths, strangers, sharp knives. If we didn't fear such things, we'd be spending a lot of time in the hospital, dead, or nearly dead.

Paralyzing fear, however, is not good. It's a fear that causes us to do nothing rather than forge ahead toward something greater. The task ahead of us may look daunting, even impossible, so we say, "What's the use?" and coward away. When we play it safe we seem to lose nothing and most certainly, we gain nothing.

Queen Esther could have "played it safe", keeping her Jewish identity a secret from King Xerxes to spare her own life from the planned anihilation of the entire race. Instead, she forged ahead in spite of her fear but not without first, seeking God's face. She, her maids,  her Uncle Mordecai, and all the Jews of the land, fasted and prayed for three days. Then, and only then, did she go before the king, still knowing she may perish at his hand. In the end, God performed a miraculous thing, saving not only Esther, but all the Jews in this kingdom (Esther 1-10).

Some of us may be staring at a God sized dream that looks more like a daunting nightmare right now. We can't sit here paralyzed, waiting for the fear to leave; thinking that when we're free from fear, then we'll have the courage to move forward. That's just a lie. As a fellow blogger so eloquently wrote today, "The enemy will tell you that courage means the absence of fear as you move ahead. It doesn't. Faith means feeling the fear and moving ahead into God's will anyway..." (Holley Gerth at http://holleygerth.com).

So, dear reader, Seek God's face. Move forward. Then watch Him accomplish great things with you, through you, despite all your fears. 

"Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken—who can but prophesy?" Amos 3:7-8

Shoulder to Shoulder

"I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder." Zephaniah 3:9 NIV

Opposites attract. That's a good thing since my husband and I couldn't be more opposite if we tried. If we took a compatibility test, I think we'd score "incompatible". I like to be alone. He likes to surround himself with people. I work best in peace and quiet. He always works with background noise. I'm a morning person. He's a night owl. Chaos paralyzes me while it quickly mobilizes him to visualize order in the midst of it. Yet, we've survived our incompatibilities for over 30 years. Maybe it's because where one of us lacks the other excels and it all balances out somehow.

The hardest thing for me to get used to in our marriage has been his need to work with me, shoulder to shoulder. When he sets out to do something on my "honey do" list and it becomes frustrating for him, he'll yell from wherever he is, "Dawn, can you give me some help?" Of course, being the good wife that I am, I drop everything and run to his side, but not without mumbling under my breath. "If I could do it myself, I wouldn't have put it on the 'honey do' list in the first place," I complain. What use to frustrate me more was that more times than not, there wasn't anything I could do to help. But, he still wanted me there...standing shoulder to shoulder.

It took a few years to finally understand that he wasn't so much looking for my physical or academic help to figure out a problem. Rather, he just needed my emotional support in a difficult or frustrating situation. And the funny thing is, his whole attitude, demeanor changes after I show up because he knows he's not alone.

This picture of working shoulder to shoulder is exactly what God envisioned for his church. He's all about community; all about working together. He didn't expect us to be lone rangers, working things out alone. Rather he intended us to join forces, gather our abilities, our talents, our support to work alongside each other in whatever task we are doing.

Some of us may be opposites, but we all play a significant role in God's kingdom. Together, working shoulder to shoulder we can accomplish great things.

He Never Fails

"Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail." Zephaniah 3:5

Loud cracks of thunder interrupted the silence of early dawn. Sheets of lightning illuminated the sky like strobe lights in a disco tech but I wasn't in the mood for dancing. I laid in bed motionless, anticipating the sound of rain while cool air rushed through the open windows. The red LED numbers on the clock glared, 3:18 a. m. Over two hours before the alarm would sound.

It wasn't long before the raindrops spattered against the metal awning outside challenging me to a race. Reluctantly, I jumped out of bed racing the raindrops from room to room. I won and hoped to enjoy a victory sleep, but my mind was wide awake. It was now 3:30 a.m. I turned my back to the clock hoping, no praying, that sleep would come quickly.

The storm subsided within minutes. Back out of bed, I reopened the windows, turned on the fans hoping to capture another 90 minutes of uninterrupted sleep. But, the birds decided to celebrate morning, instead. Not fair! I couldn't close the windows to block out their incessant chirping or I'd swelter from the humidity. So I made a deal with God.

"Lord, I know I promised to get up early to write but I didn't expect this storm. Thoughts won't flow unless I'm rested, so please help me sleep hard and fast." With that I reset the alarm for 7:30 a.m.

God woke me an hour early before the alarm sounded. Like a parent trying to coax their child out of bed for school, God kept at me until I conceded. "Grab your coffee and come with me," he prodded. "Come with me and see what I have for you today."

"But, Lord," I complained, "I'm so tired and I can't write like this. You know my deadline. I have to be 'on point' today. Can't I just sleep a little bit longer?"

"You're right," God agreed, "YOU can't compose all worn and tired. In fact, without me YOU can do nothing, even with the extra sleep. So, sleep if you'd like or grab your coffee, feast on my word, and rest in me for awhile."

Reluctantly, I followed. I feasted and he satisfied. He led me to the book of Zephaniah and fed me with promises that I'd like to share over the next couple of days. The first is his promise of faithfulness.

"Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail" (Zephaniah 3:5b NIV). God never fails to accomplish his goals. Like any child, we can be rebellious, uncooperative, lazy, stubborn and independent. But, if we simply follow his lead, become fully dependent on him in everything, he will always prove faithful to complete all that he has promised in us and through us. It isn't a coincidence that my blog is called Dawn's New Day. Today he defined what he set in motion two years ago. In every new day, no matter what it brings, God will not fail.

"...the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets" (Revelation 10:7 NIV).

Our Stories

"Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story..." Psalm 107:2

When you sit on a story for a long, long time you get bored with it. You start to second guess yourself and wonder, "Who cares, anyhow?" You've read it, told it, written it over and over again until you want to throw it away. But it doesn't go away. It's YOUR story. Everything you've written is true and it matters.

I knew last night that today I'd have to postpone my writing retreat until the afternoon or evening. Our Maine coon cat looked up at me Sunday, with three eyelids showing...not a pretty sight...and I knew she needed some medical attention. Her vet appointment wasn't until late this morning; early enough that it wouldn't allow me enough time to get to my writing and late enough that I had to keep an eye on where the cat, "Moaning Myrtle", wandered off to after breakfast.

Killing some time, I decided to read the newspaper. My eyes skimmed the articles, but my mind was interrupting. I really felt I'd let myself down; like I'd never reach my writing goal for today. I starting thinking, "What's the use? Who really cares about my story or this book idea, anyway?" My eyes finally interrupted my thought as the title of an award-winning essay written by a young girl in town caught my attention: "Divorce". As I read her words, I realized I was reading MY story. Her struggles were my struggles. Her vivid recollections were the same as mine. My heart connected with hers, another daughter of divorce. The only difference was our names and end of the story.

Endings. That's why I NEED to tell my story. It can change the entire ending to HER story and many other endings to many other stories of many other daughters of divorce. There is one who gives us hope and a future; one who never leaves us nor forsakes us; one who forgives and teaches us how to forgive. His name is Jesus.

We all have a story. We've all weathered some storms. And for those of us who've found healing for our wounds, we need to tell our stories and help change the ending of someone elses story.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

"...He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners..." Isaiah 61:1b

Before the Masterpiece

"...your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions..." Joel 2:28b

Beauty inspires. Beauty in the simplest form of nature, a butterfly, a bumble bee, a flower swept meadow, makes us stop and take notice. We admire the design of an intricate piece of artwork; the shape, the colors, the lines. Even the beauty of a good story takes us beyond ourselves, moves our imagination to the known and the unknown.

We all enjoy a great masterpiece, but have you ever stopped to think of how it is formed? How does it all begin? With a dream. With a small seed of an idea that takes root in the heart of the artist. Then the mess begins. Behind closed doors the artist plays with his idea; sketches it out; adds to it; takes away; refines and rebuilds. Hidden from his critics, his public, even those closest to him, he struggles. Days, months, years may pass. He wonders if the dream was real; if he's got the passion to create a masterpiece at all.

One small beginning to the next, what has lived in his imagination now starts to take form. Another wave of inspiration comes...a word of encouragement...God's Spirit moves him, through him until it is finished.

The artist steps back, wipes his stained hands against his sweaty brow and smiles. His heart swells in thanksgiving for what he held inside for so long is now a reality before him and ready to be shared.

That's how a masterpiece is formed. It begins as thought, an idea, a dream. It becomes a mess. It's labor intensive but God inspired. It inspires others to think, to change, to move.

What is your dream? Is it moving forward or stagnant? Is it time to get messy? Rise up! The world needs to view the masterpiece God meant for you to create.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

" 'What is impossible with man is possible with God.' " Luke 18:27

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7

Shouldn't I Be Doing Something?

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

Sitting in my sanctuary, perched in my favorite, well-worn chair, a cool breeze lends a wispy kiss upon my cheeks. It's quiet here. I welcome the late spring sun as my soul sighs, "All is well."

Tuning out the bustling world around me, I tune into my heart. Conversations from last night encircle my thoughts; talk about the end of the world. Like I found myself last night, I'm shockingly unaffected. It's not that I'm not concerned with the world nor am I ignorant of the global disasters and signs that all is NOT well with this planet. All my life I've been taught this world is temporary. It will end.

But still, here I sit, feeling untouched by this fact except for the guilt creeping in. So, I have a conversation with God. "Lord, if this is the end, shouldn't I be DOING something? Getting my hands dirty saving the world? Exactly what am I supposed to be DOING right now?" So I gather my swirling questions and God harnesses them in the light of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24-25.

First, "keep watch," Jesus says, "because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42 NIV). Like a servant who continues to keep the master's house in order as he anticipates his return, the faithful servant will not get lazy and let the house fall into ruin. If he does, the master will fire him when he arrives home, unannounced.

Second, invest well. God has sown specialized talents into our DNA. Whether we are artists, writers, builders, accountants, or caregivers we're all specifically gifted for a purpose. Coupled with the power of the Holy Spirit (and God's spiritual gifts) God designed us to do great things, NOW in THIS broken world. It's up to us to accept this spiritual journey of discovering those gifts and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you. When this happens, God says, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." (Matthew 25:23 NIV)

Finally, serve others don't just talk about it. Wherever we find ourselves, to whomever walks into our world on any day, we are to serve others with whatever means God has given us to serve; even a cup of cold water.

The leaves are rustling outside my window as I ponder God's purpose for me in such a broken world. All may not be well outside my sanctuary, but He reminds me again, that words are powerful. They're meant to be shared whether spoken or written. Harnessed by God's power they refresh others like a cup of cold water; bring healing, hope, and empowerment to a world coming apart at the seams.

Dear reader, I pray you may be refreshed by these words, but most importantly, empowered by them to harness God's gifts sown in you. What does your cup of cold water look like? How will you refresh those around you?

" 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25: 40 NIV)

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36